In the best basketball league in the world with superstar talents like Nikola Jokić, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant it would be easy to think coaching doesn’t matter. Yet every year we see that it does. Whether it’s the ability to adjust and come up with a new scheme or navigating the omnipresent storm that is the course of a season, coaching matters.
Here are the top candidates heading into the season.
Coaches with superstar-laden rosters never get credit for the team’s success. Such is life. But this Suns team is an interesting one. They have an identity offensively and will largely play the same way they did last season. But if this is somehow a top-10 defense, Vogel will get a lot of credit.
Particularly if he’s able to reach big man Deandre Ayton in a way no other coach has been able to.
Widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the league, if not the best. He’s only won the award once, in 2017 when he was named Co-Coach of the Year. Like all awards, they are regular-season-based, and the Heat pace themselves ahead of the playoffs. But you cannot deny Spoelstra’s tactical brilliance, pragmatism, and his ability to know exactly what the team needs.
If the Heat land Damian Lillard they will win a bunch more regular season games than they normally do, and that would push Spoelstra over the top in voting.
He won the award in 2002 as head coach of the Detroit Pistons. He’s held in high esteem by his peers and many in the media. This Pacers team is young and is led by All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who can make the jump to All-NBA status.
Carlisle’s defensive schemes will feature guards like Bruce Brown and Andrew Nembhard. The Pacers finished 11th last season and below .500. If they finish above .500 and make the play-in, Carlisle will be a finalist. If they manage to get the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in he could win it.
Last year’s runner-up led the Thunder to a surprise play-in appearance. This year the Thunder will be a top-6 seed. The Thunder run good action on offense and play connected defense. They ranked 12th last season in aDRTG.
As long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is healthy, wing Jalen Williams continues to ascend, big Jaylin Williams develops and Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren also develop, this team will be good.
What Bickerstaff has done in Cleveland has been incredible. The franchise was left for dead after LeBron James left and went to Los Angeles. Slowly GM Koby Altman rebuilt the draft cupboard and found the right coach to create the culture they wanted.
Two seasons ago the Cavaliers were ninth and made the play-in. Last season they finished fourth and made the playoffs. They finished second in the league in aNET rating. If they crack the top three this season Bickerstaff will be hard to deny.
As Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders continues to prep for the upcoming season, he’s been the talk of the offseason.
Of course, there are questions as to how he’ll fare out in Boulder after dominating at Jackson State in FCS ball, but this is FBS football where the talent and competition is much, much stiffer on a weekly basis, and because of that Sanders has completely changed the look of his team heading into the 2023 season.
Since his arrival at Colorado on Dec. 4, 2022, Sanders has made a ton of changes, none bigger than his flipping the entire roster.
In fact, 52 players entered the transfer portal since that fateful snowy day back in December. For Sanders this was by design, as he looked to change the culture of a program that was 1-11 in 2022 and 5-19 the last two seasons combined.
Sanders’ method of team construction hasn’t gone over well with some of the coaches around the country, with Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi and Oklahoma coach Brent Venables both questioning his method.
Not that Coach Prime cares.
USC’s Lincoln Riley Credits Sanders
Singing a different tune than the aforementioned Narduzzi and Venables, who both took over winning programs, is USC head coach and QB guru Lincoln Riley. During Pac-12 media days, the offensive savant gave Sanders his flowers for doing what he feels is best for his program going forward.
“I give Sanders credit. We all know what the rules are. We all know what the parameters are. And our job is to build the best teams that we can for the universities that give us the opportunity to do it. No excuses.”
Riley continued, “There is obviously needed to be a roster transformation there in coach Sanders’ opinion, and he went about it aggressively. Obviously, the success of that for us or anybody else to be determined on the field as time goes on.
“From the outside looking in, they’ve done a great job transforming that roster and bringing in some really good players.”
Riley And Sanders Lock Horns In Late September
While the two coaches haven’t formally met because Sanders missed last week’s Pac-12 media days as he recovered from surgery to have blood clots removed amid his ongoing battle with his foot/toe problems, they’ll clash on Sept. 30 in Boulder.
The talk leading up to the game will be about Sanders and Riley but will quickly shift to the two quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.
Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has been suspended from the airwaves since being accused of making lewd and lascivious comments to a hotel worker during Super Bowl week.
While Irvin has vehemently denied the accusations, the three-time Super Bowl champion has remained suspended since the allegations were made. Video of the encounter shows Irvin talking to the woman who made the accusations, but that’s basically all there is to go on.
Irvin’s suspension is from the NFL Network. ESPN, where he guest hosts with good friend Stephen A. Smith on “First Take,” never suspended him, but the network hasn’t allowed him to work either. The suspension has now stretched beyond five months, and Smith is ready for his yelling partner to return. Smith spoke of such during a recent episode of his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
Smith Speaks Up On Irvin’s Behalf
With Irvin standing his ground and denying any wrongdoing, Smith is also seemingly taking the same stand, and the loquacious host says with no incriminating evidence Irvin should be allowed to work.
“I’ve spoken on behalf of Michael Irvin by way of simply stating that I wanted him back on ‘First Take,’ barring any unforeseen evidence,” Smith said on his eponymous podcast on Friday.
“I’ve waited months and months, and I’m still waiting,” Smith said.
“I don’t know what Michael Irvin said to that woman. I don’t know what happened,” Smith continued.
“All I’m going by is the evidence that has been placed before us. Ladies and gentlemen, all we have seen is a 45-second video of Michael Irvin talking to this young lady, and then both of them going their separate ways. That is it. That is not a reason for a three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer to be unemployed or off the airwaves entertaining us the way this man entertains us,” Smith added.
SAS is speaking up for Irvin, who’s suing the Marriott Hotel for $100 million for defamation of character. While that was the original amount of damages sought, it could increase with Irvin’s updated suit filed in late June.
Smith Looking To Add Shannon Sharpe To Cast
With Irvin still on hiatus, the “First Take” host is hoping to see the network add another Pro Football Hall of Famer to its stable of co-hosts. That would be none other than former FS1 star Shannon Sharpe, who, per reports, left “Undisputed” with Smith’s other good friend Skip Bayless amidst irreconcilable differences.
Can you imagine “First Take” with Shannon Sharpe, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, and Irvin if and when he’s able to return?
Decibel levels on 100 all week.
New York Jets wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman has been blessed to play with legendary quarterbacks in his brief NFL career.
The former Kansas City Chiefs player spent the first four seasons of his NFL career catching passes from reigning and two-time Super Bowl MVP and league MVP Patrick Mahomes, winning two Super Bowls as well.
He’ll now be catching passes from another former Super Bowl MVP-winning QB and a four-time league MVP in Aaron Rodgers.
And while Hardman did his best not compare the two greats, he did give his take on the one glaring difference between the two.
Experience Is The Only Real Difference Between Aaron Rodgers & Patrick Mahomes
Following Saturday’s practice, one which saw the former Georgia speedster haul in a late practice touchdown from his new signal-caller, Hardman was asked by reporters about any glaring differences between the two QBs.
“They’re both Hall of Fame QBs,” Hardman said Saturday. “Aaron is just in Year 19 … so the maturity and experience, he’s a level above. He’s seen everything. You can’t trick him. He’s been in every situation.
“That’s just what separates them,” Hardman continued. “But as far as playmaking ability, they are similar. Pat is younger, so he’s more mobile on his feet. But there’s no way to compare them; they’re both great.”
The Jets hope Hardman brings some of that Super Bowl expectation that he learned in K.C. in going to three Super Bowls in his four years with the Chiefs.
Hardman Says There Will Be No Drop-off With Rodgers
Leaving the best QB in the game means one should expect some drop-off with whatever signal-caller he plays with next. But Hardman isn’t of the belief that that’ll be the case with Rodgers, and he explained why.
“Pat to Aaron, no drop-off,” Hardman said. “It’s kind of hard to go from Pat to a lot of people, but when you go to A-Rod, it’s like, OK, cool.”
Love Hardman, but there’s a difference between Rodgers and Mahomes, and he’ll see soon enough.
Magic Johnson is still adding on to one of the most legendary post-NBA entrepreneurial careers that we’ve ever seen.
On Thursday the NFL approved the sale of the Washington Commanders to the Josh Harris Group. In doing so NBA legend and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer who’s partner of the ownership group became an owner of an NFL team.
Johnson, the greatest point guard in NBA history, a savvy businessman whose adept people skills, business acumen and million-dollar smile have become a part of his vast portfolio, is now making the rounds to talk about his latest and biggest business venture.
During an appearance on the “Today” show on Friday, Johnson could not stop reveling in Thursday’s huge move as he talked about what this meant to him.
“It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s a lifelong dream.”
For 24 years under former owner Daniel Snyder the Washington franchise hovered around embarrassing on and off the field. Johnson hopes this new group of owners will be able to change that.
“It’s going to be great. It’s going to be great for the Commanders fans, it’s going to be great for the players as well, and for all the employees as well.”
Johnson also stated that the new ownership group knows it has its work cut out for it, but they’re committed to “staying busy” and changing the negative narrative that has surrounded the franchise for years.
Johnson Says Nothing Is Out Of The Realm Of Possibility
When you’ve been as bad as Washington has over the last quarter century, 164-220 with six playoff appearances and just two playoff wins, all bets are off on what the new ownership group may deem as something they need to address. Johnson didn’t hold back when asked about that either.
“I think everything is on the table, especially after this year. We’ll see where we are with the name, but I can’t say that right now.
“We’re going to spend this year understanding what we have in place, and then I’m sure talk of a new facility will come up, the name of the team will come up eventually, but right now we’ve got enough work to do and that will keep us busy.”
Johnson mentioned another possible name change is something they’ll discuss. No matter what the new owners do, it can’t be any worse than the last 24 years under Dan Snyder.
Last season under first-year head coach Doug Pederson the Jacksonville Jaguars went on to win the AFC South division title and clinch a playoff berth. That was followed up by completing the third-biggest comeback in playoff history as the Jags overcame a 30-3 deficit to shock the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the wild card round.
A huge part of the Jags’ turnaround was quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who improved across the board.
But it was also the Jaguars’ opportunistic defense that played a huge role in the team’s surprising success. One of the key cogs on that defense was 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, who finished the season with 3.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, five tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble.
While those numbers don’t jump off the screen, Walker did improve weekly, and he posted 43 QB pressures, which ranked fourth among all rookies.
After a solid rookie showing, Walker knows he’ll be counted on to raise his play in year two. During a recent interview with team’s website, the former Georgia Bulldogs star had this to say.
“I want to focus more on just playing faster, not thinking as much, playing with a clear head,” Walker said. “I’ve been in the scheme, so I really shouldn’t be thinking as much. Now I should be concentrating on the game of football to understand how veteran players do certain things, what are some tendencies I can pick up on from formations, things of that nature.
“There’s so much going on in the rookie season, coming into a new scheme, new coaches, just having to get a feel of the people that I’m going to be around. Now I just really go back to the basics fundamental game of football.”
Walker is joined by a young and talented defensive core for the Jags. One that includes fellow edge rusher Josh Allen, linebackers Devin Lloyd and Foyesade Oluokon and cornerback Tyson Campbell.
Walker was a late bloomer at Georgia, and the belief is he’ll become the consistent force rushing the passer he was for the Bulldogs in 2021. While he isn’t all about individual accomplishments, he does have one he wants to reach.
“I wouldn’t say it’s about accolades, but my main accolade is the gold jacket for the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Walker said. “I feel like if I get the gold jacket, the Super Bowl, all of that’ll come with that.”
One thing Walker prides himself on is getting better and perfecting his craft, and for a guy who has Canton aspirations, you wouldn’t expect anything else.
Terence “Bud” Crawford is the most enigmatic boxer in the last few years. Quietly confident, competitive, and playful, his career has taken more scrutiny than most, even though he is a consistent and proven winner. Crawford will face Errol Spence, Jr. on Saturday, July 29, in Las Vegas for his WBO welterweight strap and Spence’s IBF, WBA, and WBC titles.
The man who wins takes all to become undisputed at 147 pounds, but this is nothing new to Crawford, who is already a former undisputed champion at junior welterweight. The fight is about respect that has been fleeting for Crawford amid the hot lights that follow Spence.
“This fight puts a stamp on everything that I’ve accomplished in this sport,” Spence said during a virtual press conference. “People have tried to discredit me for this and that and have been calling for this fight. This solidifies everything. This is the fight that boxing needs.”
Crawford fought his whole career under the Top Rank banner until leaving them in 2021. He has been accused of fighting lesser-talented competitors, but the reality is that they were just lesser known. However, with Spence having benefitted from the deep roster of Premier Boxing Champions, his unique boxing brilliance shone brighter, even though he has yet to be a champion in multiple weight classes like Crawford.
Spence is a larger, natural welterweight that will also be very capable at 154 pounds, and he is a workhorse that destroys the body of his opponents and then targets the KO. For many, that is enough to write Crawford’s career obituary over, but not for the ever-competitive “Bud.”
“This fight boils down to who prepared the best and then on fight night, who’s on their A+ game,” Crawford continued. “That’s what it comes down to. I’m not worried about any size difference. Look at Jeff Horn and Shawn Porter. Even Jose Benavidez Jr. was a big welterweight. This is nothing new. I was always the smaller guy, even when I was fighting at 140 pounds. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
Per DraftKings, Crawford is the betting favorite at a -155, with Spence +120. They know that Crawford is a mean throwback fighter who has always found a way to win, even when punching above his natural weight. In 39 fights, Crawford has delivered 39 wins and 30 KOs and is a three-weight class world champion. He feels that and more will contribute to his success on fight night.
“Everyone Errol faced had a loss and had something already taken from them. He faced guys who already knew how to lose. I take a fighter’s belt and their ‘0’. Those fighters are never the same after that face me.”
For Crawford, the perpetual underdog status has motivated him to prove his doubters wrong. In this case, popular opinion might favor Spence, but oddsmakers see this differently. For Crawford, a win is about having that extra accomplishment atop an already successful career.
“With the magnitude and the stage and just everything that’s surrounding this fight, yes, I needed Errol. But legacy-wise, I had already accomplished a lot and was already a Hall of Famer. This win is the cherry on top for me.”
The Miami Dolphins come into the 2023 NFL season with a lot of expectations. Much of that hinges on the health of talented but oft-injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered two publicly acknowledged concussions last season, while there’s a possible third one that’s still in question. Despite, Tagovailoa’s unfortunate health scares, the team was one play from upsetting the Buffalo Bills in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
Much of the credit for last season’s success goes to then first-year coach Mike McDaniel. In year two, the expectancy is the Fins will be even better, and make a real run at a Super Sunday. But, in order for that to happen Tagovailoa will have to stay healthy and upright, and the former Alabama standout knows that, and from the sounds of it that’s what he intends to do.
As the season approaches, Tagovailoa is of the mindset that the Dolphins have what it takes to crash Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. In a recent interview with Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post, the Fins franchise QB had this to say.
“I think we’re definitely legit contenders,” Tagovailoa said. “There’s no doubt with the guys we have on the defensive side of the ball, with the guys we have on the offensive side of the ball, and now with this being the first time as an offense, we get to come back understanding already molded into the offense a little more, I think, I think it can get very, very scary, pretty dangerous.”
The offseason addition of former Jaguars and Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey should really help the Fins secondary and overall defense. Adding secondary talent is vital in a conference that features Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Joe Burrow (Bengals), Josh Allen (Bills), and many other talented signal-callers.
It’s highly plausible that the Fins would have to probably beat two of those to reach the Super Bowl.
Can they do it?
Yes, they’re definitely talented enough, but it all depends on the health of Tagovailoa.
Note to all rap artists with aspirations to film music videos within the athletics facilities of Florida A&M University: Check your lyrics and get the proper paperwork, because failure to do so could delay the program. Rap artist Real Boston Richey is now an example of what not to do when preparing for a collegiate football season.
The 2023 XXL Freshman class member filmed a video for his song “Send A Blitz” where Richey and more are wearing Rattlers football gear, including helmets, in the locker room at Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse.
The Tallahassee rapper was undoubtedly looking to pay homage and brand the HBCU based in his hometown. However, with explicit lyrics, the university took a dramatic stand against the video.
“As a result of this unfortunate situation, as head football coach, I am effectively suspending all football-related activities until further notice,” FAMU football coach Willie Simmons posted on social media. “It’s a privilege to wear the Orange and Green, and as a football program, our young men have failed to live up to the standard set before us.
“They will all learn from this mishap and we will continue to work hard every day to become the best version of ourselves and continued to make Rattler Nation proud.”
Although FAMU will participate as scheduled in SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama, on Tuesday, their five-day-a-week offseason routine of conditioning, weight training, and drills is suspended.
Ironically, the rapper, real name Jalen Taheen Foster, performed at FAMU’s homecoming last season, but even a local rap star needs to get permission. The school has numerous corporate partnerships and sponsors, like four-time NBA champion LeBron James and Nike. The school must be mindful of how the brand is portrayed, so permission is required to utilize the officially licensed athletic gear and facilities.
The music video was distributed on Friday on the rapper’s YouTube channel after a shoot that reportedly happened 24 hours before its release. An investigation is underway to figure out how the music video was done, and a team meeting is set for Monday to find more details.
However, on Saturday, coach Simmons told The Tallahassee Democrat that it’s “too premature” to discuss further potential fallout until “we have a better understanding,” of how access was given to the locker room and the licensed university apparel.
“We are trying to talk to the right people to do everything not only to cover ourselves, but the young man [rapper Real Boston Richey] in the video,” Simmons said to The Tallahassee Democrat. “There are some legal issues [with the release of the video].”
For all rappers: get permission and check your content before representing your local HBCU.
Kanye West’s ego is legendary, and so is his belief that he is one of the GOATs in show business. However, although his romantic life has moved on, he reportedly takes it personally when news of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian dating a former football GOAT arises.
The tabloids went wild after Fanatics founder Michael Rubin’s “white party” in the Hamptons over Fourth of July weekend drew in the higher echelons of pop culture. The party drew celebs of the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
When social media caught wind of Kim Kardashian at the party casually having a good time with Tom Brady, the speculation of romance began.
Reports of the two spending time on the beach together and then dancing later that evening, along with Kardashian reportedly doing shots, had many believing that the single Mr. Brady might have found a new love interest.
One of those speculative onlookers was Mr. West, who reportedly did not feel that notion. Per “Entertainment Tonight,” a source revealed that since the rumors have swirled about the potential new relationship, Kanye “has been jealous over the reports about Kim and Tom.”
However, there is a silver lining for Ye’s GOAT competitiveness, as Kardashian and Brady reportedly are not dating.
“There isn’t anything romantic going on between them,” the source continued to “Entertainment Tonight” about Brady and Kardashian. “Both of their priorities are their families. Kim has just been having fun and enjoying her summer.”
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin even weighed in on the rumors from his annual white party event about Brady.
“Honestly, they’re just friends. It’s just the crazy rumors that get out there,” Rubin said to “ET.” “Tom was with me a ton of the night, and we were having fun, and Tom just doesn’t go out that much. It’s a rare sighting. And Kim doesn’t drink much.
“So I think Kim’s 10 or 12 shots she had, [and] Tom, you know, being fun, it just leads to rumors. We always want to laugh about it.”
Kanye and Kim Kardashian finalized their divorce in November 2022, and since then, she has had a relationship with Pete Davidson, which also stoked the ire of Kanye. He can rest well on this one, as there is nothing to see here since the white party.
Speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks has enjoyed a very good NFL career. The former Oregon State Beavers standout has had six 1000-yard seasons in his nine NFL seasons. But last year in H-Town was statistically the third-worst of his career, as he only netted 57 receptions for 699 yards and three touchdowns.
Much of it wasn’t Cooks’ fault of his own, as the Texans quarterback situation was nothing to brag about. The team overall was terrible in all phases, and that had a profound effect on Cooks’ below-average season. Cooks, who’s prepping for his first season in Dallas, recently stopped by the NFL Network to chop it up with Maurice Jones-Drew and Patrick Claybon on “NFL Total Access.”
During Cooks’ interview he talked about being in a good headspace and just being grateful to have a chance to win again.
“It’s time to get back. A lot has come with that. At the end of the day, like I said earlier, we’ve got some special guys throughout the offense, all the weapons we have, I’m just going to do my best to the best of my ability, and when we look up at the end of the season, we’ll see where we’re at.”
That’s all Cooks wants, an opportunity to be on a winning team again and make plays while doing so. Cooks nearly ended up in Dallas at the trade deadline last season after requesting a trade out of Houston. While it may not have come to fruition then, the speedster is now ready to attack defenses vertically for a Cowboys team that struggled mightily in that area a season ago.
With 2022 second-team All-Pro wideout Cee Dee Lamb leading the way, the Cowboys felt it was necessary to add some speed to their receiving corps. Cooks brings that, and it should allow plenty of single-coverage opportunities for Michael Gallup, who’s now two seasons removed from a torn ACL, and Jaylen Tolbert, who could be the wild card of this group.
Head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott will be responsible for making it all work, and after his 15 interceptions in 2022, Prescott is looking to rebound and finally lead his team beyond the divisional round of the playoffs.
The question that remains, is can the Cowboys avoid the catastrophe that seems to always rear its ugly head at some point in the season. If so, this team has enough talent to make it to Vegas and Super Bowl 58.
The Chicago Bears have a pretty storied history, with nine NFL championships, to the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears also hold the record for most retired jersey numbers as well.
Some of the names associated with the Bears franchise are Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Brian Urlacher and even former quarterback Jim McMahon, who led them to their only Super Bowl win in 1985.
Despite all the legendary history of the “Monsters of the Midway,” they are the only franchise without a single season 4000-yard passer. That’s kind of hard to believe, especially in an era when throwing for 4000 yards seems almost guaranteed.
In fact, it’s become so ordinary that most liken it to a running back eclipsing the 1000-yard rushing plateau. But for the Bears not one of the signal-callers has ever reached that benchmark. The closest to do so was Erik Kramer with 3,818 passing yards in 1995.
As the 2023 season approaches starting quarterback Justin Fields is out to make history. In order for Fields to do so he’ll need to be a better passer than he’s been his first two seasons in the NFL. In those seasons Field has passed for just over 4,100 yards combined, with a 59 percent completion percentage, 24 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
During a recent appearance on the “All Things Covered” podcast, Fields was pretty confident about his chances to change history.
“I will. I plan on doing it this year, too,” he said. “I plan on doing it this year.”
Fields will need to average more than the paltry 149.5 yards per game he did in 2022 — 33rd in the league — to make good on this proclamation. Fields will need to see an 86-yard per game uptick in his passing to reach 4,000 in a season.
Shouldn’t be hard with the new and improved weaponry around the dynamic former Ohio State star, who rushed for 1,143 yards last seaaon, the most by any QB in 2022, and second-most ever in a season behind Lamar Jackson’s (1,206) rushing yards in 2019.
With the additions of wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers, the Bears now have a bona fide No.1 receiver, something every QB needs. Moore has three 1000-yard receiving seasons in his first five in the league.
The Bears also added tight end Robert Tonyan from the archrival Packers, who along with last year’s leading receiving Cole Kmet give them a really nice pass-catching tight end duo.
Those moves alone should help Fields get to the magic number of 4,000 passing yards in a season
First-year Colorado Buffaloes head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders has been in a battle the last couple of years. And that battle doesn’t have anything to do with his coaching or leading the Buffaloes or the Jackson State Tigers at his previous head coaching stop. Instead, the two-time Super Bowl-winning cornerback has been dealing with a foot/toe situation which caused him to have two toes amputated while at Jackson State.
Although he’s returned to the sidelines with abandon, Sanders is still hampered by complications from the surgery. In fact just last month he had to have blood clots removed in an emergency surgery.
Well, on Thursday Sanders underwent another round of surgery to remove more blood clots. Per his longtime girlfriend Tracey Edmonds, who took to Instagram to share an update, there is good news.
“Thank you Lord for another successful surgery!! We thank you for giving #CoachPrime Deion Sanders the strength to fight these challenges and we have Faith that he will have the VICTORY! We are so grateful for all the doctors, nurses, and staff who have blessed him on his road to recovery!”
After last month’s procedure to remove the clot in Sanders’ thigh, and some other smaller ones, doctors told him that he’d need to have this procedure done to remove other clots that had formed as a result of the original surgery in 2021.
“Following the success of his last procedure and advice of his doctors, Coach Prime is scheduled for a subsequent, routine follow-up procedure on July 20,” a spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week. University officials initially described Thursday’s surgery as a “routine follow-up.”
Next for Sanders will be a procedure designed to straighten out the three remaining toes on his foot. That’s in an effort to alleviate the pain and stress on the foot he feels when wearing shoes.
With this being Coach Prime’s first season at Colorado, you know he didn’t want to have to miss Pac-12 Media Days, but his health takes precedence over that. Sanders will have to wait until the season to see the conference’s other sideline stalkers.
Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly filled in for Sanders.
Last month he was forced to miss the big satellite camp at Morehouse College as he prepared for the first surgery. But at this point it’s all about getting healthy enough to stalk the sidelines down in Fort Worth, Texas, when the Buffaloes open the season at national runner-up TCU.
The Washington fan base rejoiced yesterday after the NFL announced the owners unanimous decision to approve the sale of the Commanders for $6.05 billion to a group led by Josh Harris. There was also another person excited to hear the news and that was Magic Johnson. The ex-Lakers superstar joined the group in March. He brings great business expertise and has ownership experience.
Johnson was brought to tears after the sale and took to social media to share his excitement.
Johnson posted a series of tweets that expressed how excited he was to finally be part of the exclusive NFL ownership club that rarely lets minorities in.
“God is so good…I still can’t believe it! I am currently living in an answered prayer,” Johnson tweeted. “Since beginning my journey as an athlete and now businessman and team owner, it’s all been a dream that has come full circle. I grew up playing football as a kid, I’m a huge NFL fan, and I watch games every week. Now, I get to co-own a storied franchise, the Washington Commanders. “
He continued, “I’m especially thankful to Josh Harris who allowed me to be one of his partners with the Commanders. He is an amazing man, great friend, incredible businessman, proven owner and winner with the Philadelphia 76ers. Josh and his team have been first class throughout this entire process. Our ownership team is committed to the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia community and fanbase to bring a winning team and best in class organization.”
Johnson said in last tweet that this was an “historic moment for the entire Black community.”
Johnson and Harris’ new business relationship has the potential to make the perfect partnership. Harris owns the Philadelphia 76ers franchise and is co-owner of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. The Lakers legend is a minority owner for the Los Angeles Dodgers, L.A. Sparks, and Major League Soccer franchise Los Angeles FC.
Also, Johnson’s terrific PR track record will help with the new ownership group’s image as they try to right the wrongs Dan Snyder left them as he was headed out. The now former Commanders owner was slapped with a $60 million fine following former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White’s 17 month investigation into Snyder while he was the owner.
Podcaster and husband to porn star Lena The Plug, Adam22, is letting the world know how he feels after former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown tried to pull up on his wife in the Twitter streets.
“Let me explain something,” Adam said to TMZ. “My wife worked with a trained adult male porn star, and it’s not like she’s up for grabs for any horny dude in the industry whose career has fallen apart who wants to get some.”
Brown hollered at Lena after catching wind of her recent sex scene with Jason Luv, her first with another man in the seven-year relationship of the couple. However, after a not-so-playful back and forth between the men on Twitter after Brown made advances at Lena, now Adam22 is saying Brown reached out to get on his “No Jumper” podcast to talk it out.
“His team reached out to my team yesterday after he sent the tweet and they said, ‘Antonio’s down to drive to L.A. and do an interview with Adam,” he continued. “My team says, ‘OK, cool, we’re going to tell Adam.’ I say, ‘I’ll do it this, it will be some good content.’ They wanted five thousand dollars.
“I was like, it’s not happening,” Adam tells us. “He must be broke, or something. I looked him up on Google, it says he’s worth like $20 million. But, I mean, he’s out here scrounging up, trying to get five thousand dollars out of me to do the interview. I’m like, why am I gonna give you five thousand dollars for disrespecting my wife on Twitter, you piece of s**t?”
However, although Adam says Lena works with professionals, he included the option for controversial podcaster Andrew Tate to get the opportunity with his wife.
Way to be selective, Adam22.
“To be totally fair, Andrew Tate might be at the level where we would consider it,” Adam says. “Antonio Brown, to me, is basically a homeless person. The idea that I’m gonna let this piece of s**t f**k my wife, it’s not happening. And, I’m not giving you $5,000 for an interview, either.”
Ouch.
I guess AB deserved the shade after coming at someone’s wife sideways, but in the game of porn, skin, smoke, and mirrors, perhaps AB thought anything goes for likes.
While former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and current boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury are excited at their upcoming bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Oct 28, the event has its detractors. Aside from the very vocal UFC President Dana White, add retired former top UFC contender Chael Sonnen to the list.
“It’s the most ridiculous sporting competition of our lifetime,” Sonnen said on “The Schmo And The Pro.” “Let me give you an example. Take the Lakers — and the real Lakers, right, back when they had the guy named Shaq [O’Neal] and Kobe Bryant, rest his soul. I don’t know if LeBron James] was ever on that team, but remember when they were really good?
“And you’ve got Phil Jackson as a coach. Take them and go put them against [Tom] Brady and the Patriots. You’ve got these great teams, but you’re going to go do it under football rules. Do you see how stupid it is? Do you see why it’s never happened? You see why it’s never even been discussed? That’s what’s happening here.”
Sonnen upped the ante by taking a personal shot at Tyson Fury, arguably the best heavyweight boxer on the planet, for what he views as professional bullying.
“What kind of a scumbag is Fury, though, man? I’ve really got to tell you: Fury broke my heart,” Sonnen said. “I liked this guy, and I liked the entertainment. I like so many things about him. You take a guy like Fury, who God made huge, gave great coaches, great training partners, great experiences, too — he has weapons and tools that other men can’t deal with if they’re not armed.
“And he’s going to choose to use those to beat up a guy who’s at least 37 with no experience and is on one leg? That’s a bully, and it’s a scumbag. I would never do that to somebody. Jesse James made a lot of money, and there’s hitmen that made a lot of money. I mean, there’s things that you can do, but you own it. You’re a bully, and you’re a scumbag.”
The fight is titled “Baddest Man on the Planet,” and will take place under the official rules of professional boxing, with three judges ringside adopting the 10-point must system. For Ngannou, it is the flex of a lifetime as he defied the rejection of the fight by his former employer, Dana White, jumping ship from the UFC in free agency to join the Professional Fighter’s League for his MMA career and getting a fight made with Fury in boxing.
The first cross-combat fight to make a global impact was Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor, still the second-highest boxing pay-per-view ever. For Ngannou, he is looking for huge paydays and game-changing bouts. All other opinions are just noise as he paves his lane in combat sports.
ESPN football analyst and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is the latest to weigh in on the devaluing of the RB position in the NFL. The 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year called for RBs to strike in a video posted to his official Twitter account. Is he right?
“The only real solution to fix how running backs are treated when it’s time to get paid is a solution for all players,” said Griffin III. “Running backs have to lead the charge in pushing for a renegotiation of the CBA. With the key points being that all rookies have three-year contracts regardless of their draft position and eliminating the franchise tag and transition tag for all players.
“This solution wouldn’t just benefit running backs, but it would benefit all players by getting them to free agency faster. … So, by restricting rookie contracts to three years and eliminating franchise and transition time, it would allow running backs to get to free agency faster and make top dollar during their prime earning years.”
The talk over RB contracts came to a head earlier this week when the New York Giants failed to reach a contract extension with their star RB Saquon Barkley. The two-time Pro Bowl back is now contemplating sitting out the season to try and force the Giants’ hands.
Last season’s leading rusher and first team All-Pro RB Josh Jacobs has also failed to agree to a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
It is clear that the terms of the collective bargaining agreement cause issues for players at certain positions, namely RBs. In a league where the average career is three years and an RB’s is two, it would be smart for the NFLPA on behalf of the players to try and have that changed in the next negotiation.
Of course that’s seven years away. A point Griffin III makes in his video.
“But here’s the thing with seven years left on the current CBA, only way to get this done is to strike. … First of all, the CBA has anti-strike language in it. But the players technically can’t strike but practically they can. And if the players want change, now, they have to be willing to go the extra mile. That’s a big ask … but in the end, it will be worth it.”
It might not seem like it, given the salaries some players make. But the issue RBs are going through right now is the same reason Hollywood is on strike and it’s the same reason longshoremen, and UPS workers are on strike.
These companies that are parts of huge industries rake in astronomical profits and the workers, who are the means of production, don’t feel they are compensated fairly.
Dalvin Cook was released by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason and has yet to find a new home but is linked to potentially signing with the Miami Dolphins. In the midst of his free agency, the star running back still has a domestic violence investigation hanging over his head.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Cook and his lawyers offered his ex-girlfriend U.S. Army Sgt. Gracelyn Trimble $1 million to send a letter to the NFL that would “relieve him of any wrongdoing” in his part of the alleged domestic violence incident that took place in 2020.
In 2021, a civil lawsuit was filed against Cook that alleges he physically assaulted Trimble at his Inver Grove Heights home on Nov. 19, 2020. Trimble claimed that she flew to Minnesota to attempt to break up with Cook and gather her things from his home but he then physically assaulted her.
According to Rochelle Olson and Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, the running back “grabbed her arm, and slung her whole body over the couch, slamming her face into the coffee table and causing her lower forehead and the bridge of her nose to bust open.”
The offer allegedly came after Cook’s lawyers initially offered $800,000 in exchange for an affidavit that would deny Trimble’s claims of abuse against the ex-Vikings running back. She told them that she wasn’t going to sign a “fraudulent affidavit” and Cook’s counsel sent a fresh offer a few hours later for the $1 million in exchange for the letter to the NFL to deny any wrongdoing.
Trimble’s attorney, Daniel Cragg, wrote that Cook’s offer was an attempt to get his client to commit perjury, and should be used as evidence in court. Trimble has already testified under oath that she was assaulted.
“This does not pass the smell test, and can and should be admissible as evidence of Cook’s consciousness of guilt,” Cragg’s filing read.
Cook has remained consistent with his claims of being innocent. He filed a defamation lawsuit in Hennepin County against his ex in 2021 and claimed that she attempted to break in his home and physically assaulted him. Both cases are still pending, and many believe that is why teams are hesitant to sign the free agent.
He has been on the market now for six weeks, and it hasn’t helped that running backs are experiencing low contract offers.
The money offer was an attempt to resolve the incident and allow everyone to move on. Cook and his lawyers might investigate how the $1 million offer was leaked to the media, because the court filing was supposed to be sealed.
A twisted turn of events that left a youth football coach dead and another being charged for his murder, finally comes to an end. According to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the brother of retired NFL cornerback Aqib Talib pleaded guilty to a murder charge in connection to a shooting at a youth football game at Lancaster Community Park in Lancaster, Texas, just outside of Dallas.
Yaqub Salik Talib shot and killed 43-year-old Mike Hickmon on Aug. 13, 2022, and now faces multiple years behind bars. He agreed to a plea bargain that is expected to land him with a term of 37 years behind bars when is sentenced in August.
The two youth football coaches got into a heated confrontation while disputing a call that referees made, which ultimately lead to referees ending the game early.
Aqib allegedly punched Hickmon first and Yaqub then opened fire. Witnesses told police that Hickmon was shot multiple times, including in the back, before Yaqub left the scene with the help of his brother. The youth football coach later turned himself in to Dallas County Jail. It is reported that Yaqub’s criminal history dates back to 2015 with arrests in Dallas and Collin counties on several charges that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment.
Aqib was in attendance because he and his brother both had 9-year-old sons that played for the North Dallas United youth football team.
In addition to the murder charges, Aqib, Yaqub, and the Big XII Youth Sports league was also sued by the family of Hickmon for $1 million in damages.
Aqib retired in 2020 and was supposed to be part of “Thursday Night Football” on Amazon Prime as a studio analyst but left after his brother was charged with murder.
The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback could be eyeing a return to Amazon Prime now that this unfortunate event is behind him and his family.
On the recent episode of their “Road Trippin'” podcast, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson discussed a wild night before the 2005 NBA draft. Jefferson organized a night out at the NYC clubs and at the end of the night Frye, who had yet to be drafted, was stuck with a $36,000 bill.
“Richard, for lack of a better term, ran that demographic of New York,” Frye says.
Jefferson was a member of the then-New Jersey Nets and the team had come off a run of four straight trips to the playoffs, including two NBA Finals appearances.
Frye had just finished his four years at the University of Arizona and was a projected lottery pick in the next night’s draft. He ended up being selected eighth overall by the New York Knicks.
According to Jefferson, the night featured a ton of ex-Arizona guys like Gilbert Arenas and Luke Walton, a number of fellow Nets and Knicks players and Frye’s fellow class of 2005 draftee David Lee.
Frye handed his card over to Jefferson to “hold the table” and by the end of the night he realized the entire night was on his dime.
“They swipe it, they swipe it,” RJ says. “He’s just getting crushed. And this is kind of like a rookie hazing.”
But Frye had yet to be drafted. What kind of credit card limit did he have?
“The NBA money hadn’t even got into the ozone yet, and my phone is blowing up. My s*** is still college s***, I don’t even have an NBA check yet!!”
Stories like this permeate the league. It is a form of rookie hazing and ultimately if you can pay the freight, you pay it. Tough lessons to learn for any young player.
Frye turned out just fine. He played 14 seasons in the league and earned just over $68 million. Jefferson played 17 seasons and earned over $114 million. The two were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and won an NBA championship.
The two Arizona alumni are longtime friends and co-host their podcast alongside broadcaster Allie Clifton.
